Fuel blender

ABSTRACT

A fuel mixer, blender and container, said container being of a specific volume and having a spout through which the container is filled and from which contents in the container are dispensed. A stirring device for blending the fuel is rotatably mounted in the container and includes pairs of agitator blades mounted on a shaft and sloped in opposite directions relative to one another and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft on which they are mounted. The shaft is journalled in the top and bottom walls and rotated by a crank detachably connected thereto. Deflector blades, fixed to the container walls, are located within the container and are sloped at an angle to the axis of the shaft. The spout is located to provide a selected volume providing proper proportions of fuel and oil in a mixture for a two-cycle internal combustion engine.

i] ite Heatcoat States late 19 [5 1 FUEL BLENDER [76] inventor: Edgar H.Heatcoat, Box 354, As-

siniboia, Canada [22] Filed: April6, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 131,598

[58] Field of Search .;259/107, 108, 122, 121, 111, 259/8, 116, 118,119,125

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 414,506 1i/l889 Felt .Q.259/108 2,585,334 2/1952 McCauley... ....259/l22 6/1939 1 Heath..2S9/l08 [4 1 Jan. 23, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert W. JenkinsAttorney-Lining & Siege] 57 ABSTRACT A fuel mixer, blender andcontainer, said container being of a specific volume and having a spoutthrough which the container is filled and from which contentsin thecontainer are dispensed. A stirring device for blending the fuel isrotatably mounted in the container and includes pairs of agitator bladesmounted on a shaft and sloped in opposite directions relative to oneanother and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shafton which they are mounted. The shaft is journalled in the top and bottomwalls and rotated by a crank detachably connected thereto, Deflectorblades, fixed to the container walls, are located within the containerand are sloped at an angle to the axis of the shaft. The spout islocated to provide a selected volume providing proper proportions offuel and oil in a mixture for a two-cycle internal combustion engine.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAH23 1975 3,712,592

' SHEET 1 or 2 FUEL BLENDER This invention relates to a fuel blender,particularly for mixing and proportioning fuel oil mixtures for twocycleinternal combustion engines.

The present practice of mixing fuel oil and proportioning consists ofpouring a selected quantity of oil into a container and measuring aselected quantity of gasoline to provide the desired proportions andplacing such quantity in the container, thereafter shaking the containerwith the mixture therein to provide an even mixture. This is undesirablein that it is necessary to measure each of the two quantities beforeplacing the same in the container or, alternatively, measuring the same,for example, by dispensing gas from a metering pump while placing thesame in the container. The present procedure is furthermore undesirablein that the mixture is not always homogenous as this is dependent uponthe type of oil being used and varies with the amount of shaking actionof the container for mixing.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a simple,portable container into which a selected quantity of oil is poured andfurther filling of the container to overflow with gasoline provides theappropriate fuel oil mixture for a two-cycle engine.

A further principal object of the present invention is to provide acontainer with an agitator which effects complete blending of the fuelmixture in the container.

Accordingly, there is provided in accordance with the present invention,a fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

a. a container having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, asingle outlet and inlet spout in said top wall and positioned to limitthe quantity of liquid held by the container to a specific amount;

' b. at least one deflector secured to the side wall of said containerand located within the container, each said deflector comprising aplate-like member extending longitudinally along the side wall to whichit is attached at an angle to the plane of the bottom wall of saidcontainer; and

c. a stirring device for'blending a fuel oil mixture in the containercomprising a shaft journalled in said top wall and having respectiveportions located interiorly and exteriorly of the container, a crankattached to said exterior portion for rotating the shaft by hand, and atleast one pair of agitator blades secured to said interiorly locatedportion of the shaft, each said pair of agitator blades consisting oftwo planar elements located one on each of opposite sides of the shaftand inclined in opposite directions with respect to one another relativeto the length of the shaft.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a container blendercombination constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along section 2-2of FIG. 1, but illustrating a complete container; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical side elevational view taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, illustrated in FIG. 1 is a fuelmixture blender and container consisting of a container 10 having arotatable agitator 20 for blending a fuel oil mixture in the container.The container 10 includes a top, dome-shaped wall 11, a flat bottom wall12, and a cylindrical side wall 13 formed of sheet metal, plastic, orthe like in any well known manner. A spout 14 is located in a recess 15in the top wall 11 and has external threads for receiving a cover. Thetop of the spout 14 is located at such a position as to provide anoverflow for contents in the container in excess of a given quantity. Itwill be obvious that in place of providing an overflow for such excessquantity, the desired volumetric measure or quantity measure may be inrelation to any position on the interior of the spout, for example, thebottom end which first contacts liquid located in the container.

The agitator 20 consists of a shaft 21 journalled at opposed ends innylon sleeve bearings 22 and 23 held captive in respective top andbottom walls 11 and 12. In the embodiment illustrated, the respectiveend walls have an inwardly turned lip 24 with the bearings held thereinby an interference fit. The bottom bearing 23 has an end wall 23A toprovide vertical support for the shaft 20 and vertical movement of theshaft in the opposite direction is limited by a cotter pin or the like25 passing through the shaft and engageable with the lower face of thesleeve bearing 22. A crank 26 is detachably connected to the shaft 21with the juncture thereof being approximately flush with the uppersurface of top wall 11. In the embodiment, illustrated, crank 26 hasoffset portions 27 and 28 interconnected by a portion 29. The crankportion 27 has an end portion 27A threaded into a correspondinglythreaded recess 273 in the upper end of shaft 21.

A pair of agitator blades 31 and 32 are secured to the portion of theshaft 20 located interiorly of the container and each consists of a flatplanar portion 33 having a marginal upwardly turned lip 34. The flatplanar portions 33, of respective blades 31 and 32, are sloped inopposite directions relative to one another and with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft 21. As illustrated in FIG. 2, theagitator blades 31 and 32 are attached to the shaft intermediate theirrespective opposed ends and adjacent edges of the blades are in spacedrelation relative to one another. This permits fluid to passtherebetween during mixing. If desired, however, the blades may passbeyond the shaft to opposite side such that they are in slightoverlapping relationship in top plan view.

To further facilitate mixing a plurality of deflectors 40 are attachedto the side wall 13 of the container. Each deflector has a substantiallyflat planar portion inclined to the horizontal, notched at 41 to permitrotation of the agitator blades having upper terminal ends overlappingthe lower ends of the deflectors. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG.1, the deflectors are not completely flat but, instead, have a slightcurvature from one end to the other with the lower end sloping inwardlyand downwardly while the upper end slopes inwardly and upwardly.

The foregoing container is designed primarily for proportioning andmixing fuel and oil in the proper proportion for two-cycle combustionengines. The volume of the container is selected such that a quart ofoil is first poured into the container and is thereafter filled withgasoline to a position in proximity ofoverflowing from the spout, thisproviding the proper mixture required. In a mixture of 25 to 1 as iscommon in twocycle engines, the overall volume is 5 gallons and l quart.Blending of the fuel and oil is effected by rotating shaft 20 by thecrank 26, the positioning of the deflectors and agitator blades beingsuch as to effect complete mixing of the ingredients.

The container is provided with a carrying handle 50 having opposedhooked ends 51 and 52 projecting through an aperture in respective onesof bales or cars 53 and 54 secured to the container side wall 13 in aconventional manner. In place of a single wire handle 50, there may beprovided hand-grips in the sides of the container for lifting the sameor, alternatively, individual handles projecting outwardly from thecontainer wall, all of which carrying means are well known in the art.

I claim:

1. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

a. a container having a top wall having a depression therein, a bottomwall and a side wall, a combined single outlet and inlet spout locatedin the depression in said top wall and having a terminal edge positionedto limit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a preselectedspecific amount;

. a plurality of deflectors secured to the side wall of said containerand located within the container, in spaced relation relative to oneanother, each said deflector extending longitudinally along the sidewall to which it is attached and at an angle relative to the plane ofthe bottom wall, said deflectors being curved and having a portionextending inwardly into the container to a greater extent than theremainder thereof; and

. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall andhaving respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of thecontainer, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secureddirectly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair ofagitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft,each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elementslocated one on each of 0pposite sides of the shaft and inclined, inopposite directions with respect to one another and relative to thelength of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flangeextending along the longitudinal marginal edge thereof remote from saidshaft.

2. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising:

a. a container having a top wall, a bottom wall and a side wall, asingle outlet and inlet spout in said top wall and positioned to limitthe quantity of liquid held by the container to a specific amount;

b. at least one deflector secured to the side wall of said container andlocated within the container, each said deflector extendinglongitudinally along the side wall to which it is attached and at anangle relative to the plane of the bottom wall; and

. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall andhaving respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of thecontainer, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secureddirectly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair ofagitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft,each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elementslocated one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined, inopposite directions with respect to one another and relative to thelength of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flangeextending longitudinally along a marginal edge thereof remote from saidshaft.

3. A fuel blender and container combination as defined in claim 2wherein said handle portion is detachably connected to said shaft at aposition in close proximity to the upper wall of the container.

1. A fuel mixture blender and container combination comprising: a. acontainer having a top wall having a depression therein, a bottom walland a side wall, a combined single outlet and inlet spout located in thedepression in said top wall and having a terminal edge positioned tolimit the quantity of liquid held by the container to a preselectedspecific amount; b. a plurality of deflectors secured to the side wallof said container and located within the container, in spaced relationrelative to one another, each said deflector extending longitudinallyalong the side wall to which it is attached and at an angle relative tothe plane of the bottom wall, said deflectors being curved and having aportion extending inwardly into the container to a greater extent thanthe remainder thereof; and c. a stirring device comprising a shaftjournalled in said top wall and having respective portions locatedexteriorly and interiorly of the container, said exteriorly locatedportion having a crank secured directly thereto for rotating the shaftby hand and at least one pair of agitator blades secured to saidinteriorly located portion of the shaft, each said pair of agitatorblades consisting of two planar elements located one on each of oppositesides of the shaft and inclined, in opposite directions with respect toone another and relative to the length of the shaft and terminating inan upwardly directed flange extending along the longitudinal marginaledge thereof remote from said shaft.
 2. A fuel mixture blender andcontainer combination comprising: a. a container having a top wall, abottom wall and a side wall, a single outlet and inlet spout in said topwall and positioned to limit the quantity of liquid held by thecontainer to a specific amount; b. at least one deflector secured to theside wall of said container and located within the container, each saiddeflector extending longitudinally along the side wall to which it isattached and at an angle relative to the plane of the bottom wall; andc. a stirring device comprising a shaft journalled in said top wall andhaving respective portions located exteriorly and interiorly of thecontainer, said exteriorly located portion having a crank secureddirectly thereto for rotating the shaft by hand and at least one pair ofagitator blades secured to said interiorly located portion of the shaft,each said pair of agitator blades consisting of two planar elementslocated one on each of opposite sides of the shaft and inclined, inopposite directions with respect to one another and relative to thelength of the shaft and terminating in an upwardly directed flangeextending longitudinally along a marginal edge thereof remote from saidshaft.
 3. A fuel blender and container combination as defined in claim 2wherein said handle portion is detachably connected to said shaft at aposition in close proximity to the upper wall of the container.